Unequal Access to College. Postsecondary Opportunities and Choices of High School Graduates. Staff Report.

Access to college for ethnic minorities and the poor remains very limited. Four times as many high school graduates from high-income families enter the University of California than do graduates of low-income families. The entrance rate to the State University and Colleges for high-income graduates is twice the rate for low-income graduates. An examination of the educational and work choices of 1,600 random graduates of 20 Los Angeles high schools revealed that only 4 percent and 9 percent of all black graduates enter UC and CSUC, respectively. The inequality of college opportunities largely results from the disproportionate numbers of low income graduates who are ineligible to enter the University of California or the State University and Colleges. Findings also indicate that UC entrance requirements that focus on high school performance in math and science courses discriminate against women graduates, Los Angeles high schools are greatly segregated, and entrance rates to private colleges and community colleges are surprisingly equal. Several steps to overcome inequities are: (1) expansion of student financial aid programs to further alleviate financial barriers to college; (2) expansion and improvement of outreach programs; and (3) greater flexibility in UC and CSUC admission requirements. (Author/KE)